(Image Source: New York Daily News)

BY RICO BUSH

A controversial billboard in Grand Junction, Colorado depicts President Obama as a terrorist, gangster, bandit and a gay man. It’s making waves even after it’s been taken down.

The removal of the anti-Obama billboard has prompted protest from The Grand Junction Tea Party-- the group says the removal strips away First Amendment rights.  

Grand Junction NBC affiliate KKCO reports Tea Party activists are not so interested in the sign itself, but what it represents.

“I was willing to give my life in Vietnam for our freedoms and I still am and I know all the veterans feel that way and to give up our freedoms because somebody wants to bully somebody else is not right.”  

The artist, Paul Snover, says he took down the billboard after receiving death threats and hateful e-mails. Snover tells the Daily Sentinel the billboard was a good example of using free speech to highlight national issues.

“It’s not that Obama is a terrorist or a gangster, it’s that mentality that seems to come across from him and his administration...The Mexican drug smuggler, it’s the border issue in Arizona and him not willing to take it on and handle the situation. And with the gay problem, it’s the social justice issues and trying to manipulate things with that.

But the Tea Party group and the artist are at odds with some local residents in Grand Junction. CBS affiliate KREX in Grand Junction has their reaction.

“I think that that sign is stupid. You know why the first figure there portrays him as a Muslim. What does the next him part come in? I think its terrible, I think the art work good, but the message is really bad.”

Denver Fox affiliate KDVR reports Democrats in Grand Junction say the billboard is a reflection of a polarized political climate.

"Obviously, there's some racism in this... But this is just a reflection of the atmosphere we're in these days, an atmosphere fueled by Rush Limbaugh and other people who encourage us to demonize the other side to no end. It's never going away and it's very sad."

But a blogger for JammieWearingFool says the billboard was obviously not meant to be taken so seriously.

“Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how the billboard is racist. Perhaps some enlightened liberals can clue us in. If it's so horrifying and racist, why are newspapers publishing the photo of it? I recall George W. Bush being caricatured in every possible vulgar way. Why was that acceptable and goofing on Obama isn't?”

An anonymous Grand Junction man paid the artist 500 dollars for the artwork. What do you think? Freedom of speech? Or over the top?